About AAMEG

The Australia-Africa Minerals & Energy Group is the peak body representing Australian companies engaged in the development of Africa’s resource industry. We support members operating in Africa and facilitate collaboration between industry, governments and other stakeholders to ensure that resource development produces sustainable outcomes in Africa.

BACKGROUND

Over the past 20 years, Australian mining companies have had a dramatically increasing role in exploring and developing mining projects on the African continent, the effects of which have far exceeded that of official Australian Government involvement. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) suggested that the Australian mining industry consider establishing a representative body in order to facilitate a more active engagement with our Government, as well as to leverage the industry’s presence on the African continent. As a result, in 2010, the Australia-Africa Minerals & Energy Group was established, followed by formal incorporation in April 2011.

During the 2011 Africa Down Under Conference in Perth, there was a meeting of the AAMEG advisory committee and senior Australian Government representatives from DFAT, AusAID, Austrade and EFIC. There were also a number of one-on-one meetings between AAMEG advisory committee members and senior Government representatives. Formal meetings continue to occur twice yearly at ADU and Indaba.

ADVOCACY

We believe in policy development that promotes technical leadership in resource science, innovation, project development and sustainability best practice.

AAMEG advocate on behalf of our members to raise the profile of the significant investment and contribution that Australian mineral and energy companies have in Africa. As the voice of the industry, we are passionate about and committed to the sustainable and positive economic development of the African Continent.

Australia is considered a global leader in resource governance and AAMEG embodies the ethical philosophies demonstrated by our members’ conduct in Africa, not just within the communities in which they work, but with the broader stakeholder audience and host governments.

By aligning your business with AAMEG, you can influence Australian minerals and energy success in Africa, and enhance the reputation and investment climate for the Australian resources industry.

INSIGHTS

AAMEG members have access to first-hand, real-time insights that target current operational challenges and best practice. We seek to facilitate the exchange of ideas that contribute to the positive development and performance of Australian resource companies in Africa through the delivery of events, workshops, introductions, publications and online platforms.
The complex nature of doing business in any foreign destination and specifically the developing economies of Africa cannot be underestimated. To successfully manage expectations and deliverables across a broad cross section of stakeholders, comprehensive engagement must begin at the highest levels of government and filter through to state or provincial leadership before developing trust and rapport with host community structures.

Our members collaborate on issues including:

• Political and social risk

• Skills development

• Security and health

• Poverty

• Bribery and corruption

• Investment climate updates

• Security

• Foreign law and regulation

AAMEG is active in providing support to member companies on social impact and community development projects, in addition to the complex issues surrounding successful operations in Africa.

CONNECTIONS

AAMEG exists to forge connections between the Australian minerals and energy industry in Africa and its key stakeholders, both at home and abroad.

We believe in the power of a good network, bringing people together over a common point of interest, ‘doing business in Africa’, while connecting people from different backgrounds. Whenever our members are impacted by any serious event such as policy or legislative change, war, terrorism, acts of nature etc., AAMEG has an important role to play. This could include parliamentary representation, educating, capacity building, facilitating an industry-wide response, mobilising resources, or sharing knowledge.

Currently we represent and support almost 80 Australian mining, oil and gas, exploration, service and supply companies, and individual consultants active in Africa. Our reach across industries is extensive, and includes: Government, Education, Agricultural, Legal, Finance and Accounting, Insurance, Marketing, NGOs, Not-For-Profit and many other participants crucial to mineral and energy success in Africa.

Being an Australian led organisation, AAMEG works actively at the State and Federal levels to engage the Government’s cooperation on mining related activity in Africa. Most recently we played an influential role in the current Senate Inquiry into Australia’s Trade relationships with Africa – this is just one of many examples of how we build connections.